Fire official: Gas leak caused town blaze; 1 injured

An Arlington Fire Department official said a gas leak caused a house fire that injured a Town of Poughkeepsie woman.

An Arlington Fire Department official said a gas leak under a street caused a house fire that injured a Town of Poughkeepsie woman.

Capt. Bill Steenbergh said the fire was accidental, related to the gas leak. The woman was treated for burns at a local hospital and released.

"Our understanding is that the leak was under the street, and it was in the gas main that served that neighborhood," he said.

He said Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. was still in the neighborhood this morning.

"Central Hudson worked through the night," he said.

Central Hudson spokesman John Maserjian said, "Central Hudson is conducting an investigation into the incidents on Marple Road, and is cooperating with local and state officials."

Steenbergh said fire displaced a family of four - a mother, father and their two children. Their ages were not immediately available. He said their home is likely destroyed.

"We do not believe that the house is repairable," he said.

The fire appeared to have engulfed the whole roof of the single-family home. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 7 p.m. Friday.

"The house has extensive fire damage," Steenbergh said.

Firefighters were not able to enter the house Friday night, but they believed some floors may have collapsed, said Steenbergh. It took firefighters about two hours to extinguish the blaze.

A neighbor reported that they heard an explosion before the fire.

Central Hudson was at the scene to shut off the gas supply to the house and check on neighboring houses.

The Mid-Hudson Valley of the American Red Cross provided shelter to the displaced residents.

Neighbors

Joanne Holmes, who lives down the block at 16 Delaval Place, was standing outside when she heard and felt a big boom. Initially, she thought it was a car accident. Holmes grabbed her snow boots and went to make sure everyone was OK.

"I started seeing smoke billowing out of the house," said Holmes. "I ran down there and the house burst into flames."

She said she saw black heavy smoke and flames were coming out of the roof. When she saw that, she turned and ran back, and then heard sirens, she said.

"I'm sad. It could happen to any of us," she said. "These people don't have a bed to sleep in tonight. I just hope everyone's OK"

Mario Walling said he heard two booms about 15 minutes apart. At first he thought it was a car accident or a tree falling down.

"I came outside, and it was fully engulfed," said Walling.

Arlington and City of Poughkeepsie firefighters were on scene. New Hamburg, Pleasant Valley, and LaGrange fire departments and Mobile Life Support Services ambulance were on standby.

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Fire official: Gas leak caused town blaze; 1 injured

An Arlington Fire Department official said a gas leak caused a house fire that injured a Town of Poughkeepsie woman.